Studio 3, Inc.

Food & Drink

Portfolio Perfection!

Posted on January 21, 2014

At Studio 3, we are constantly improving our portfolio by being inspired by photography trends, current advertising campaigns, as well as feedback from local portfolio shows. This particular shoot was meant for photographer Craig Wagner. We had been constantly receiving client needs that included drinks, food, incorporated in a lifestyle environment. We decided to meet this need, by heading to a Portland hotspot, Produce Row. Below you can read Liz Swales, the Portland producer’s take on the shoot…

The Seattle marketing team came to me with the request of adding some beautiful, natural, and simple lifestyle, drink shots to Craig Wagner’s portfolio.

The first thing that came to my mind was Produce Row, a place that I used to manage and call home. The bar, lighting, classic nature and overall feel of the well known restaurant and bar in Portland, Oregon made it a dream to shoot in.

We were able to use what Produce Row has to offer, lots of whiskey, fancy mixology, and a bar with 25 taps. It was the perfect set up. With the addition of Craig’s beautiful lighting and creativity, we were able to create classy images that met the request.

I set up the shoot among two days, knowing from previous experience that there are only about 3 hours in the day the restaurant is slow. I didn’t want our shoot to affect or be effected by their overall patrons.

This made our team work well and get our creative ideas working in a timely fashion.

It was a great experience combining efforts with our team and my old team at Produce Row, while capturing the beauty and knowledge of drink mixing.

-Liz Swales

And of course, this story wouldn’t be complete without Craig Wagner’s insight on how he was able to capture such beautiful images.

The sequence of the bartender making a drink are amongst my favorite, I created a bit of energy by dragging the shutter to allow movement, the soft natural light was a bonus.

With mixology being all of the rage these days, I thought it be nice to expand my portfolio with some environmental shots, my producer sent our scout to a few locations including Produce Row, which was remodeled in 2010, the space, environment and lighting made it the perfect choice for this particular project.

Shooting on location can be challenging, light conditions can change rapidly, space can be tight and you may need to shoot during business
hours. We chose to break the shoot into two afternoon sessions to lower our impact on their patrons.

A large bank of north facing windows provided beautiful natural light. Only using a flexfill and a kicker light in addition allowed us to move
around the venue quickly.

-Craig Wagner

Check out Craig Wagner’s beautiful images below and be sure to give us a call for your next on location shoot!

portfolio — Studio 3, Inc.

Produce Row — Studio 3, Inc.

Produce Row — Studio 3, Inc.

Produce Row — Studio 3, Inc.

Produce Row — Studio 3, Inc.

Produce Row — Studio 3, Inc.

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StoneBurner_Cocktail_0165

Drinks on Seattle Magazine!

Posted on December 3, 2013

Seattle Magazine recently approached Chris Eltrich, to do a drink photography shoot. Seattle Magazine’s goal was to showcase the best watering holes in Seattle. In order to truly capture the spirit of each Seattle destination, they gave Studio 3 the task of capturing each bar’s signature cocktail’s unique look and recipe. Luckily, we had help from a mixologist, from each bar. The mixologists whipped up the drinks, and we couldn’t be happier with their styling skills.

On set, we enjoyed hanging out with all of the talented mixologists and testing all of the different cocktails. Our favorite beverage included the salad drink, it made us all feel quite “healthy”. It’s multipurpose nature, won us all over. However, with that said there wasn’t a cocktail that didn’t agree with at least one of us! We can’t wait to visit these spots as a team and try all of their fun drinks!

Besides the team having a blast on set, Seattle magazine was quite impressed with the results, running one of the images as the cover. Stephanie Mennella, from Seattle Magazine, shared a few words with us on the feedback received regarding the images:

It looks AMAZING!! It’s getting tons of compliments, and I appreciate the extra mile you guys went to accommodate the hectic schedule of getting all the drinks shot.

With such awesome words, we couldn’t help but feel great. It’s always a blast working with Seattle Magazine, especially when spirits are involved. We look forward to our next shoot with them and hope perhaps it involves Seattle’s best restaurants…

On that note, we expect the months ahead to be full of fun drink photography shoots and hope to get a call to work with you on your next drink project!

drink photography — Studio 3, Inc.The infamous salad cocktail from Rocco’s

 

Drink Photography — Studio 3, Inc.A delightful concoction from Cafe Flora

 

Drink Photography — Studio 3, Inc.The cover image, a beautiful treat from Stoneburner

 

This edition of Seattle Magazine is now available on newsstands, so check it out!

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Food Photographer David Bell Fish Out of Water

Posted on June 25, 2013

It’s finally summer and that means summer food, like delicious fish…or sardines? David Bell Studio 3’s Food Photographer had quite the challenge ahead of him making the shiny, little fish look quite scrumptious. He decided to shoot a recipe of sardines, radishes, and lemon, highlighting the freshness of it all. Read below to learn about his techniques and inspiration behind the series:

I wanted to shoot this particular recipe, because it is that time of year when the radishes are fresh, yummy, and abundant. As you will see in the images the radishes are roasted, which brings out that fresh, rich flavor that we all love. Not to mention the beautiful color!

Food Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Pairing the radishes with a strong taste, like sardines, makes a very nice earth and ocean dish…delighting the taste buds. Knowing the mix between the two I knew I wanted to create a beautiful daylight effect. Being the control freak that I am I knew I could control this lighting and really bring out the uniqueness of this dish and to create that I used the Studio Strobes. I used the Hasselblad tilt shift adapter to capture the details and showcase the beauty in the elements. I wanted a surface that was not too rustic or modern. My intention was to find a table that could easily be in ones home or even a restaurant.

In the images below I was trying to attain a real & natural look, without everything being overly styled and perfect. For this project I chose to work with a stylist that was trying to break into the industry. This was a fun experience!

I think the lack of perfection in the styling is what draws you in and makes you want to try the dish. I hope this series will make the viewer want to experiment with sardines and fresh, earthy produce!

Food Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Food Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

To view more Food Photography images created at Studio 3 please click here!

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Beverage Photographer David Bell Espresso Made Easy!

Posted on January 22, 2013

It’s a known fact that all of us, at Studio 3 Inc., love coffee. One thing we love more than drinking this delectable beverage is highlighting its beauty through the lens. Our most recent Drink Series was shot and the set was designed by Beverage Photographer David Bell, characterizing the steps necessary to make a fantastic cup of coffee with the amazing Moka Pot. David, details his inspiration behind this specific shoot, along with his love for the product:

When I was in Italy, staying with a family, this was how our coffee was made every day. What a wonderful memory! Ahhh…the smell of espresso is always accessible when you have a Moka Pot, more commonly known as the “stovetop espresso maker”. The coffee that the Moka Pot makes is a cross between espresso and drip coffee. It’s simplicity is similar to Instant Coffee with an amazing flavor. It’s strong, but not bitter – perfection!

This product was brought to us thanks to it’s wonderful creators Luigi De Ponti and Alfonso Bialetti. This invention, has made enjoying espresso available to everyone, which is what I wanted to showcase in my step by step imagery. So I decided to create a series showcasing the brilliance of this machine.

I shot this series utilizing one of my favorite cameras the Hasselblad H-39. I also used a very long lens in order to capture the detail and the background. For image composition I used bright colored cups to help separate the pot from the background. This helps to create color and interesting reflections in the product.

As long as you have the right bean variety and grind, you can always count on a wonderful cup of joe anytime of day!

David Bell’s Espresso Made Easy Image Series is below!

Beverage Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Beverage Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Beverage Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Beverage Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

Beverage Photographer — Studio 3, Inc.

 

To view more Drink Photography created by David Bell and other photographers at Studio 3 please click here!

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Product Photography by Craig Wagner!

Posted on December 11, 2012

We love testing out the latest gear releases, so when we had the chance to test out the Broncolor Scoro S power pack we decided we wanted to test it to the limit! What better way to see what it can do then to combine it with an afternoon of water splashes and fruit drops. Here are a few words from Craig Wagner who loves Product Photography!

My first intention was just to test out the pack. What I found is that the Broncolor Scoro S pack is extremely versatile with the ability to adjust flash duration, as well as the triggering delay. We setup a 33 gallon tank filled it with water powered up the Scoro S pack, attached two heads, one with a medium umbrella on the background and another with 7-inch silver reflector coming from just right of camera.  Sometimes with the newer photo equipment you have to refer to the user manual in order to figure out all the little intricacies of the equipment.  But the Scoro S is very user friendly with a fantastic display menu allowing the user to easily navigate and adjust to the desired settings.  We played around a lot with the adjustable flash duration settings dialing it one way or the other depending on if we wanted a little motion drag or tack sharp precision in our image.  For the first image I suspended the apple just below the water surface and used a stream of water to create the burst.

Product Photography — Studio 3, Inc.

 The second image was created by dropping the peppers into the tank of water.  Using the studio’s infrared triggering device allowed us to consistently capture the peppers in the desired placement.

Product Photography — Studio 3, Inc.

For this shoot I used the Canon 5d Mklll with the Canon 100mm lens.  With the camera attached to the infrared trigger we were able to simultaneously remotely fire the camera when the infrared lazer stream was broken by the motion of the falling peppers. – Craig Wagner

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Photographer Craig Wagner: Meet the FLESHRIPPER..

Posted on October 31, 2012

Photographer Craig Wagner at Studio 3 worked on this upcoming HALLOWEEN image! See below for the scary story.

This Halloween morning started out like any ordinary morning.  I arrived at the studio in the eerie dark, Starbucks coffee in hand ready for the days work.  I’m usually the first to arrive at the studio, but today I noticed something odd!  The back door was propped open and the alarm was not activated.  I peered inside not quite sure if it was safe to enter.  Behind me I heard foot steps, as I turned I was startled by our studio producer Rachel Meyer.  I was glad she showed up when she did since now I’m not alone…  Once inside I hit the lights, NOTHING! I grabbed a flash light from the cabinet and we started to head for the circuit breakers.  As we entered into the darkness of the wood shop, I encouraged fearless Rachel to lead the way, my trembling hand holding the dimming flashlight.  Suddenly I heard the deafening sound of a chainsaw with the words, “FLESHRIPPER” written on the blade! So I bolted…out the back door alone. As I ran down the street, I realized…..I survived my meeting with THE FLESHRIPPER!

– Studio 3 Survivor

Photographer Craig Wagner — Studio 3, Inc.

THE FLESHRIPPER IN ACTION! Coming to a studio near you.

Photographer Craig Wagner — Studio 3, Inc.

Try your own, “Fleshripper Martini”! You might be one of the lucky survivors…

Photographer Craig Wagner — Studio 3, Inc.

I can’t really say where my inspiration came from for this image, perhaps it was from listening to Cosby’s “Chicken Heart” way to many time as a kid. What ever the exact inspiration we had a blast in the studio. Myself and the crew definitely had the “ghoulish spirit” this year. We pulled together props to build the set, sprayed fake blood all over our Studio Producer Rachel, and Matt chose to play the part of Michael Myers. We were ready to go! This is the type of scene I love to light because it’s dark and moody with subtle details. And the blood made it a fun challenge!
I found shooting with our Canon system exporting into Lightroom perfect for this adventure and of course I used my Speedtrons. I wonder what the sequel will be like. – Craig Wagner

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A Splash of Fun!

Posted on July 24, 2012

The perfect summer refresher: San Pellegrino and Sanbitter, combined, create a thirst quenching Italian soda. This particular photoshoot, shot by David Bell, was inspired by backyard bashes and long bright days. Imagine sipping these delights while playing badminton, barbecuing, hanging by the pool, or simply catching up with old friends. Check out the whole story by viewing the images below:

— Studio 3, Inc.

— Studio 3, Inc.

— Studio 3, Inc.

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Star Spangled JELL-O!

Posted on July 3, 2012

It’s that time of year again, backyard barbecues, fireworks, family get-togethers, and sweet summer treats. Living in the Northwest, July is the official kick off of warm weather and neighborhood potlucks; which inspired photographer David Bell to give an homage to the jiggly, colorful, childhood favorite, JELL-O! Read below for David’s thoughts on Jell-O:

Fun. Funny. Love It. Hate It.

An American Classic,

Perfect for the 4th of July

From all of us at Studio 3, have a Happy 4th of July!

— Studio 3, Inc.

— Studio 3, Inc.

— Studio 3, Inc.

 

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Food Photography: Slow Roasted & Shot to Perfection

Posted on May 22, 2012

Individuals who call the Pacific Northwest home are all about celebrating the sunshine days, often times that’s through picnicking, bbqing, happy hours, really anything that involves delicious, unique food creations. At Studio 3 we celebrate by shooting our favorite food via amazing food photography. It’s about the ooooh and aaaah moments experienced when taking a first bite. When talking with food clients, it’s all about how appetizing the food looks on that package, advertisement, or in store display, with that in mind Studio 3 sets out to create more than just one appetizing moment, but a series that leads up to the big meal. So, belly up and enjoy a pork sandwich meal, inspired by Seattle’s Paseo, food photographer David Bell was all about capturing the tradition of this local favorite:

The sandwich is an absolute mess, one of the messiest foods you can possibly order, yet one of the most delicious. My challenge when approaching this project was ensuring messy not only looked good, but also looked appetizing. Oh, the joys of food photography! This sandwich has a mind of it’s own and is often times hard to contain. It was all about making sure the sandwich looked authentically messy, therefore bringing the viewer into the moment, the moment of when you sit down at Paseo or any table and are served a pork shoulder sandwich. I believe the best part of this series is the overall end result; creating an essence of being there, on a summer day, about to enjoy a delicious meal.

When approached with such a fun project, the whole studio tends to try and get involved, whether it be sneaking pieces of pork shoulder or getting a chance to delve in on the creative process. No one, however, gets quite involved like our staff producer Jen Hitchcock. Read her thoughts on the shoot below:

It’s always interesting when the studio is approached with a food photography shoot. I am never quite sure what I am going to have to run out and get. Whether, ice cream starts melting too fast and it’s time to replace them with mashed potatoes, or perhaps running to get glue to hold an item together. Luckily with this shoot, everything was 100% natural, I got to step back and really see some magic happen. This series of photos was really a brain child between David and stylist Erika. They worked so well together on this, they couldn’t have made my job easier. It’s always great to see a stylist and photographer really click.

We are all definitely looking forward to the next food photography shoot, hoping perhaps there are enough leftovers to feed the entire studio. 🙂

Check out the images, inspired by Paseo’s pork shoulder sandwich below:

Food Photography — Studio 3, Inc.

Food Photography — Studio 3, Inc.

Food Photography — Studio 3, Inc.

 To Check Out More Food Photography Visit Our Website!

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Enzo's: A Meal to Remember

Posted on March 29, 2012

Lee Mendelsohn, Portland’s Photography Representative, gives her two cents on one of Portland’s culinary gems, Enzo’s:

“Without hesitation my favorite restaurant in Portland is Enzo’s Italian Cafe on Alberta in the northeast. Every time I go it feels like I am at home which is one of the many reasons I have brought my entire family, all of my friends, and many of the wonderful people I have met while working at Studio 3. This is a neighborhood restaurant where everyone knows your name!  Enzo lives a satisfying life and it shines through his food.

Immediately upon entering, you are greeted by name and served homemade delicious warm bread right out of the oven paired with authentic olive oil from Italy. I personally recommend the Cavatelli with Basil – WOW – out of this world! The antipasto, his homemade sausage, and tiramisu are must-haves as well. When asked about his favorite menu item, Enzo responded without hesitation, “Orechiette e cimedirape” which means “little ears” in Italian. Intriguing. If it’s Enzo’s favorite, this will be my next meal for sure!

Enzo (owner/chef) grew up in Puglia, Italy and learned the art of cooking from his mother at a very early age. Prior to introducing his restaurant he  spent many years opening coffee shops, traveling, and working in manufacturing. Enzo always dreamed of bringing the flavors of Italy to a restaurant environment and now that dream is a reality.”

Stay tuned for Enzo’s upcoming events in April! Easter Brunch, Special Wine Dinner (introducing 6 new Italian wines), and an event where he will be discussing an upcoming trip to Italy. He will be inviting 25 lucky guests to tour his hometown. Also, Enzo will be hosting a one year anniversary party during the Alberta last Thursday Event on April 26th. A must visit for any Portland resident or tourist!

Be sure to visit their website and like them on facebook!

Enzos — Studio 3, Inc.

Enzos — Studio 3, Inc.

Enzos — Studio 3, Inc.

Enzos — Studio 3, Inc.

Enzos — Studio 3, Inc.

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